FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Chini Johnson-Taylor
Public Relations/Marketing Chair
323-683-8304
PASADENA SHOWCASE HOUSE FOR THE ARTS (PSHA) AWARDS CLOSE TO $30,000 TO TWELVE YOUNG MUSICIANS
PASADENA, CALIF. For everyone sitting in the audience of the Pasadena Showcase House 28th Instrumental Competition held at The Colburn School, it was an exhilarating experience to hear musical excerpts from composers such as Mozart, Haydn, and Stravinsky stunningly performed by twelve remarkably talented young finalists, ages 16-24, and competing for prizes totaling up to $30,000. This annual competition is open to young musicians who either live or attend school in Southern California. Over the course of 28 competitions, PSHA has awarded nearly $550,000in prizes to promising music students at the Instrumental Competition. The prize monies for the competition are provided from proceeds of PSHA’s annual benefit, the Pasadena Showcase House of Design. To date, PSHA has donated over $19 millionto youth music programs and to the Los Angeles Philharmonic including a $1 milliondonation to Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Donna Gotch, PSHA President, enjoyed listening to the young musicians perform. She explained, “PSHA values the high level of talent that competes in our annual Instrumental Competition. These young musicians work very hard and provide inspiration for all. Many of our previous competition winners go on to have verysuccessful music careers.”
The twelve winners, competing in strings, brass, and woodwinds, each received a share of the nearly $30,000 award. Before the winners were announced, the finalists commented on how the prize money could help them with buying new instruments, repaying student loans, and travel expenses to auditions, and in some cases, having to buy a second seat for their instrument.
The Grand Prize for exceptional talent and musicianship went toHye-Ryung Lim, Flute,who attends TheColburn School and has played the flute for 12 years. She also attended schools for the Arts in Seoul, Korea. Hye-Ryung won the Grand Prize at the J&R Music Competition, won Grand Prize in the Korea Mozart Music Competition and has performed in Korea and California. Lim spoke of her career aspirations “to play in a major orchestra, and how helpful the prize money would be with the expenses of being a student studying abroad.”
The Jack Smith Memorial Award for most promising went to Julian Zheng, Horn, who attends TheColburn School, studied horn for eight years, and is working on his Bachelor of Arts in Music. Zheng was the winner of the 45th Premier International Solo Horn Competition held in Memphis in 2013. He has performed with the Melbourne Youth Orchestra and the Australian Youth Orchestra. Zheng expressed his dreams of “playing with the New York Philharmonic, and said the prize money would be of great help with travel expenses for auditions, and insurance and maintenance of the instruments.”
In the Strings Category, First Prize went to Christopher De Fazio, Cello, Second Prize went to Ye Lin “Stella” Cho, Cello, and Honorable Mention went to Arianna Smith, Viola, and Stephen Tavani, Violin.In the Brass Category, First Prize went toZach Thomas, Trumpet,Second Prize went toBrandon Davis, Tuba, and Honorable Mention went toMatthew Baker, Trumpet.In the Woodwinds Category, First Prize went toJack Peña, Bassoon, Second Prize went toMicah Wright, Clarinet,and Honorable Mention went toAngelo Quail, Clarinet.
Chuck Rubin, Instrumental Competition Chair, summed up the event, "The annual Instrumental Competition for young musicians is one of the foremost events Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts has the pleasure of presenting in its ongoing efforts to promote youth music education. This year's competition again drew participants from music programs all over Southern California. The final round of competition held on November 16th, at The Colburn School, was as exciting as ever."
Head Judge, Jin-Shan Dai, Violinist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and a strong believer in the transformative power of music, expressed his thoughts about the competition, “It's interesting to compare the competition this year to the last one. Since I was one of the string judges last year,I am happy to say that the level of playing in the DVD round has risen this year, as many of the finalists last year applied again and showed considerable improvement, which is always encouraging to see. We all enjoy hearing younger players;it is especially thrilling to know how many talents there are out there in southern California. It is also comforting to know this classical tradition is alive and well.”
In addition to Dai, the judging panel included six other members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic:Andrew Bain, Principal Horn; Jacob Braun, Cello; Anne Marie Gabriele,Second Oboist; Burt Hara, Associate Principal Clarinet; Thomas Hooten,Principal Trumpet; Ben Ullery, Assistant Principal Viola.
Piano accompanist for several of the finalists, Roberta Garten, commented that “PSHA is so supportive of the students. The finalists all worked so hard to get to this point and they’ll all learn something, no matter what the outcome.”
ABOUT PASADENA SHOWCASE HOUSE FOR THE ARTS: This is a milestone year for PSHA as it celebrates 65 years of volunteerism, the 50th Anniversary of the Pasadena Showcase House of Design and, since 1948, the generous awarding of over $19 million in gifts and grants in support of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Walt Disney Concert Hall, numerous non-profit organizations and local symphonic, cultural and educational musically-oriented programs for youth and young adults.
An all-volunteer organization, Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts (PSHA) is a non-profit California Corporation whose members donate their time and talents to produce the annual Pasadena Showcase House of Design. Founded in 1948, and formerly known as The Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Committee, PSHA adopted the Pasadena Showcase House of Design as its annual benefit in 1965. It is one of the oldest, largest and most successful house and garden tours in the nation.PSHA volunteers are united by their belief in the power and beauty of music. Their collective desire is to fund programs that nurture the study and appreciation of music, utilize music as a vehicle towards health and healing, and ensure that music is available to a broad range of audiences.
The 2014 Pasadena Showcase House of Design will be open to the public Sunday, April 13 through Sunday, May 11. For more information about PSHA or the Pasadena Showcase House of Design, please visit
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